In a closely contested friendly match held at the Bayan venue in Kuwait on 27 December 2024, Noakhali Sporting Club faced off against Cumilla Victory Club, resulting in a 1-1 draw. The match kicked off at 8:00 am, with both teams eager to showcase their skills in front of a modest crowd of around 100 spectators.
Noakhali Sporting Club adopted a 3-1-4-2 formation, which saw Mohammad Robel in goal, flanked by a three-man defence consisting of Alamgir Hossain in the centre, with Nur Hossain on the right and Ahsan Ullah on the left. In front of the defence, Omar Faruk Rayhan played as a central midfielder, tasked with linking the defence and attack. The midfield was bolstered by Saif Sariful on the right, Saif Al Masud in an attacking role centrally, and Md Roni on the left, while Mehedi Hasan and Mohammad Mahbub operated as forwards, with Abdullah Sumon supporting as the left forward. The substitutes for the match included Ahmed Ujjal, Main Uddin, Md Borhan, Hasibul Alam, and Md Foysal.
The match began with an early scare for Noakhali as Abdullah Sumon was caught offside in the 8th minute due to a lapse in concentration. As the game progressed, Mohammad Robel showcased his goalkeeping prowess by making a solid catch in the 14th minute, ensuring his side remained in the contest. Nur Hossain then made a crucial block in the 16th minute, demonstrating the defensive resilience of Noakhali.
However, the match took a turn in the 17th minute when Md Roni committed a foul, resulting in a push that earned him a yellow card. Despite this setback, Noakhali began to find their rhythm, with Saif Al Masud delivering a long pass in the 21st minute, followed closely by another key pass from Md Roni just a minute later. Saif Al Masud then attempted a shot in the 23rd minute, but the breakthrough came from Cumilla Victory Club in the 25th minute when they scored from inside the box with a well-placed right-footed shot.
As the half progressed, Mohammad Mahbub was caught offside in the 37th minute, a testament to Cumilla's effective defending. The first half concluded with Noakhali facing a 1-0 deficit.
The second half saw a flurry of substitutions from Noakhali as they sought to inject fresh energy into the game. In the 40th minute, Mehedi Hasan, Ahsan Ullah, and Omar Faruk Rayhan were all substituted off, with Ahmed Ujjal, Main Uddin, Md Borhan, and Hasibul Alam coming on to bolster the squad.
The turning point arrived in the 52nd minute when Hasibul Alam scored an unexpected equaliser, capitalising on a long pass from goalkeeper Mohammad Robel. This fluke goal reinvigorated Noakhali, who now had the momentum on their side.
As the match wore on, tensions rose, and in the 71st minute, Ahmed Ujjal was penalised for a charge, but Noakhali held firm to maintain their composure. The match concluded after an additional five minutes of extra time, with both teams sharing the spoils in a hard-fought encounter.
Mohammad Robel's performance in goal was instrumental in securing the draw, earning him the accolade of Player of the Match for his crucial saves and the assist that led to Noakhali's goal. The friendly served as a valuable exercise for both teams as they prepare for future challenges.
